Ma Dai was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He previously served under his uncle, the warlord Ma Teng. After Ma Teng's death, he followed his cousin Ma Chao (Ma Teng's oldest son) and they took shelter under the warlord Zhang Lu for a short period, before eventually serving Liu Bei, founding emperor of Shu.
Little of Ma Dai is known through historic records, except he at least participated Zhuge Liang's last northern expedition in 234. During that war, he was defeated by general Niu Jin of the rival state of Cao Wei; but he was credited with hunting down Wei Yan, when the latter insisted on continuing the northern expedition after the death of Zhuge Liang.
[edit] Appointments and titles held
- General Who Pacifies the North (平北將軍)
- Marquis of Chencang (陳倉侯)
[edit] In fiction
In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of Three Kingdoms, Ma Dai went with Ma Teng to the capital on a summon from Cao Cao, and escaped from Cao's trap by disguising himself, and participated actively during the Battle of Tong Pass. He later followed Ma Chao to serve under Zhang Lu, and defected to Liu Bei when Liu besieged the city of Chengdu. He was depicted as a trusted general under Zhuge Liang after Liu Bei's death, and was often used in crucial parts of the battlefield during Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign alongside Zhao Yun and Wei Yan. Right before Zhuge Liang died, he named Ma Dai, along with Liao Hua, Wang Ping, Zhang Yi (Bogong) and Zhang Yi (Boqi), as the loyal retainers of Shu. Ma Dai's most notable deed is for slaying the rebellious Wei Yan in a ploy set up by Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wei. When Wei Yan revolted, Ma Dai pretended to join him, then sneaked up behind Wei and assassinated him. His reward was the rank that Wei Yan had forfeited.
[edit] Modern references
Ma Dai is first introduced as a playable character in the seventh installment of Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series.
[edit] See also
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Ma, Dai |
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